December 5, 1885. 
THE HARDENING WORLD. 
210 
returned for the West Ruling of Yorkshire, S15 ; and 
the only other counties which return above 500 acres 
are Kent and Cheshire. In Scotland, Edinburgh heads 
the list with 411 acres; the next highest being 
Dumfries with 193 acres ; while in Wales, Glamorgan, 
with 78 acres, stands well ahead of all the other 
counties. 
-—- 
DISEASE OF ASPARAGUS, MINT, 
LUCERN, BULBS, &c. 
The Copper-web Fungus, Rldzodonia violacea, 
TV.—Asparagus is sometimes extensively destroyed by 
a fungus which is generally first noticed in the form of 
small brown or tawny patches on the stems. The 
patches spread, and in bad instances at length envelope 
the whole plant. In its later stages, the fungus assumes 
a black and furry appearance. Asparagus grown as a 
farm crop over many acres, is sometimes killed by this 
pest—(Rhizoctonia violacea, Tul. )—to the ground line. 
Sometimes fresh shoots spring up, but in bad cases no 
new growth is made, and the plants are utterly 
destroyed. Inmoderately bad attacks, no flowers are 
produced. When, the roots are dug up, they are found 
to be putrid and have a disgusting odour. A week or 
two is sufficient for the fungus, which generally appears 
in July, August, and September, to utterly destroy 
every plant. 
The Asparagus parasite is one of the “Copper-web ” 
fungi placed under Rhizoctonia ; these pests grow not 
only on Asparagus, but on Potatos, Saffron, Crocus 
sativus, Lucern, Medieago sativa, L., Mint, Purple 
Clover—Trifolium pratense, L. } Rest-Harrow—Ononis, 
Arvensis, L., Colcliicum, Narcissus, Dyer’s Madder, 
Rubra tinctoria, Dwarf Elder, Sambncus ebulus, L., the 
Orange Gladiolus, and other plants. The genus of fungi 
is, however, ill defined, and very imperfectly known; 
the growth of Rhizoctonia has been seen most complete 
in Saffron, Lucern, and Mint. The fungi of two first 
named plants have been named Rhizoctonia erocorum, 
I). C., from being seen on the Saffron Crocus, and R. 
medicaginis, D. C. ; they are probably the same with 
each other, and both are better known under the 
name of R. violacea, Tul. The parasite of Mint is R. 
Menthse, B. it- Br. 
The name Rhizoctonia is derived from the Greek, 
rliiza,—a root, and kteino—to destroy, in reference to 
the root, rhizome and bulb destroying nature of the 
fungus. 
The disease sometimes partially attacks the roots of 
Lucern, Medieago sativa, L. The illustration, Fig. 1, 
shows part of a root that is badly invaded by the 
“ Copper-web ” of English growers, — the “Tacon” of 
the French, the fine felt-like tawny or violet mycelium, 
is seen dotted over with the minute brown, violet, or at 
length black, fleshy tubercles or peridia of the fungus. 
One of the hairy tubercles or peridia, is shown enlarged 
twenty diameters at A. Fig. 2, and a section through 
a similar tubercle is shown at B. The mycelium and 
felted hairs of the tubercles are shown enlarged, 400 
diameters at C. No spores or seeds, except the conidia 
(dust-like spores or seed) seen by Mr. C. Edmund 
Broome on Mint, have ever been seen on the fungus 
named Rhizoctonia. 
The Copper-web fungus of Mint has been distinguished 
as a species, by Messrs. Berkeley & Broome under the 
name of Rhizoctonia Menthfe, B. d• Br. It was first 
described in the Annual and Magazine of Natural His¬ 
tory for June, 1801, No. 985. The parasite is 
Undoubtedly, very near R. violacea, Tul. 
Rhizoctonia Month®, B. & Br., attacks Mint in 
gardens, it grows just above the surface of the soil, is 
at first tawny in colour, and densely floccose, with 
short threads, at length it is compact and violet. The 
threads are the same in structure but not in colour as in 
R. violacea, Tul. The threads which carry sub-globose 
spores, conidia or seeds '003-'00 4 in. in diameter, are at 
length violet in colour, and as the tint spreads the tufts 
become compact, and converted into smooth Sclerotium- 
like bodies about the size of a Mustard-seed. A. 
Selerotium is a compact ball of fungus spawn or 
mycelium. Occasionally the Sclerotium-like growths 
exhibit tawny patches showing traces of the original 
threads. In the parasite of Mint there is no papillre- 
form or nipple-like apex of the tubercle as in some forms 
of Rhizoctonia, and the little Sclerotium-like growths 
resemble more nearly the floccose bodies seen on the 
Rhizoctonia of Lucern. 
The Copper-web fungus is often highly destructive to 
the Saffron-crocus in the months of April and May. In 
its earliest state it is white in colour, but soon becomes 
violet, it grows on the internal face of the dry covering 
or skin of the bulb. The corms of Gladioli are destroyed 
in a similar manner. "Whilst the mycelium is still 
white the minute tubercles are developed, each tubercle 
being surmounted by a kind of minute papilla or nipple. 
This development is not unlike the mode of growth 
common to the numerous fungi found under the genus 
Sphwria. There is, however, in the fungus before us 
no opening to the nipple : the substance of the tubercle 
is firm, filamentous, moist, and stuffed, not hollow. 
The spores or seeds of the fungus should be sought for 
within these tubercles, but at present, with the ex¬ 
ception of the Mint Rhizoctonia mentioned above, no 
bodies of the nature of spores or seeds have been seen. 
With our present knowledge it is impossible to point 
out any preventative or remedy against the “Tacon” 
or “Copper-web” fungus. Whence it comes in the 
spring, or how it rests in the winter no one has yet 
explained. It can doubtlessly rest for considerable 
periods in the spawn or myeelioid condition. In this 
state it often makes havoc with Potatos in cellars in 
the winter. 
There is a remarkable error in reference to this fungus 
in Paxton’s Botanical Dictionary. It is there said the 
Copper-web fungus is one of the “ Agaricacere,” i.e., a 
kind of Mushroom, with stem and gills like the edible 
Mushroom of our markets. The fungus no doubt 
belongs to the Splisericese, microscopic fungi which 
always produce their spores within small globular 
receptacles, termed peritliecia. 
'The destruction caused by the Rhizoctonia is general !y 
the most complete and damaging when it attacks and 
sweeps off large crops of Asparagus. The only known 
remedy at present known is the destruction of all 
affected parts by fire. — Worthington G. Smith, Dun¬ 
stable. 
India-rubber.— The British Consul at Greytown, 
Nicaragua, states that the India-rubber trees once 
numerous along the banks of the San Juan river in the 
neighbourhood of Greytown, have been almost entirely 
destroyed by the short-sighted policy of the rubber- 
cutters, in injudiciously and excessively bleeding them, 
and the entire want of efficient police supervision. 
MR. MOLYNEUX ON THE 
CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
For the information of “ W.O.” allow me to say that 
I hope shortly to write a series of articles on the Chry¬ 
santhemum in all its various forms, in which I shall en¬ 
deavour to make all things in connection with its culti¬ 
vation as clear as possible, so that even the uninitiated 
may grow them. 1 venture to say that when once anyone 
takes to the Chrysanthemum he will not rest content 
until he has made a great effort to achieve success, 
such a charm has the Chrysanthemum upon the feelings 
of those who cultivate it. Many articles have been 
written upon the Chrysanthemum, but to my mind 
most of them have not been sufficiently clear to those 
who have had no experience. I append a list of varie¬ 
ties in each section of the family (the colours can be 
found in any catalogue), kinds that are really suitable, 
and which I have proved to be good ones. No doubt 
there are many which another person would substitute 
for some of those named or add to them ; this must be 
a matter of purely personal fancy. Still, anyone re¬ 
stricting themselves to those I enumerate cannot go 
far wrong. There are a few of this season’s novelties 
which, I think, are improvements upon some older 
kinds; but my advice to those who have little experience, 
is to grow those kinds which have been proven good, 
and wait till someone else proves the “novelties” ; but 
if there are some anxious to grow a few of the newer kinds, 
and I know there is generally a hankering after variety, 
the following may be named as most promising :— 
L’Adorable, in the way of Yal d’Andorre in shape, 
but in colour bronzy yellow ; Jupiter, fiery red ; 
Mons. Freeman, rosy violet ; Maiden’s Blush, 
white ground suffused with blush ; L’Eboureffe, in 
the way of Criterion in form, the colour yellow ; La 
Triomphante, white ; and Mdme. Laing ; fuller 
descriptions can be had from the catalogues. I do not 
attach much importance to the description of colours 
given, in many cases not being able myself to see 
the wonderful combinations that are set forth in 
some catalogues ; I think more simple descriptions 
would be much better, and not so misleading. 
I make a point now of not growing a variety without 
I have seen it, or it is recommended to me by someone 
whom I consider does know a good variety. Asmanypeople 
will be anxious to know when to propagate, I take this 
opportunity of saying that I consider any time in 
December, after about the 10th, a good time to strike 
the cuttings. The following is a list of varieties, suitable 
for blooming in succession, for private families, as “W. 
C. ” puts itMadame Desgrange is the best of the 
early-blooming kinds, which can be had in September; 
followed by Lady Selborne, a handsome decorative 
variety ; then comes the snowy white Elaine, so much 
appreciated by almost every one ; then we have James 
Salter, as a companion to the former variety ; and at 
the same time comes Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. Dixon, and 
George Glenny, which are much appreciated for deco¬ 
rative work or for cutting, as they are so free of bloom. 
These varieties are considered too small now as exhibi¬ 
tion cut flowers. Simon Delaux and George Gordon 
come into bloom about the same time and make a good 
contrast in colour, as they are both of a rich dark crim¬ 
son hue ; Mons. Henri Jacotot, a rich handsome dark 
colour with gold tips on each floret is very attractive ; 
Dr. Macary, one of the lilac varieties, is a good com¬ 
panion to the former kind. These named are a few of 
the best early blooming kinds, which will be suc¬ 
ceeded in turn by the general collection. 
Haeon de Neige is a variety I think highly of for 
cutting ; it was sent to me as a reflexed variety, but it 
is decidedly Japanese of the same style as Elaine, except 
that the florets are fewer in number and more vertical 
in form! they do not lie so close and stiii looking as 
they do in Elaine ; this I consider the only fault the 
latter possesses. Some of the best late blooming kinds 
are Princess of Teck, Hero of Stoke Newington, Meg 
Merrilies, Fair Maid of Guernsey, Grandiflora, and a 
variety named Ceres, not much know n as yet, it is a 
white Japanese variety with loose florets, which are 
disposed in a graceful manner rendering it very 
attractive. Some of the Anemone-flowered varieties are 
very attractive for decorative purposes ; some of the 
best are Fabian de Mediana, Madame Cabrol, Sceur 
Dorothee Souffle, and Mdme. Clos, the best of the new 
race of Anemone Japanese. Of the ordinary 
tvpe of Anemone, we have Lady Margaret, Gluck, 
Acquisition, and a late blooming white kind vInch can 
